Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

MONTICELLO – Like so many other across the country Annalee Bartels spent the spring and summer months during the global coronavirus pandemic searching for something fun.

It was when Bartels decided to dedicated her time toward working hard that she found the fun she was looking for.

With COVID-19 cancelling many of the activities Bartels had gone to for fun in previous summers the Regina senior elected to put that time into her running.

Already a two-time state medalist in cross country it wasn’t until Bartels put in the extra work this summer that she developed a true love of running.

“In past years I kind of prioritized having fun over the summer but now running is fun,” Bartels said. “I practiced running every single day and it’s helped me really start to love running.”

This fall the summer work has turned into more than just a love of running, it has helped Bartels evolve into one of the elite runners in Class 1A.

Bartels continued her stellar senior season with a fourth-place finish at the River Valley Conference Championships on Tuesday at Monticello High School.

“I finally started taking it very seriously this summer,” Bartels said. “All my activities this summer go cancelled so I spent that time training and drinking water and getting nutrition down and I think that really attributed to my success this year.”

Bartels trained all summer not sure COVID-19 would allow her to even have a senior season.

When it was announced the season was a go in August Bartels was more than ready.

“You could tell from the first day of practice that she had been putting in a little bit more work than usual,” Regina coach Liam Hartley said. “That’s not to say she hadn’t worked hard before but I think it being her senior season, her final year, is really what motivated her for this year.”

Bartels earned state medals as a sophomore and junior, finishing 12^th at the Class 1A meet this year.

In her final offseason Bartels took her preparation to another level, in her final season her training and performance have followed a similar climb.

“I’ve learned to run with the boys during workouts and it’s just been really fun and I’ve learned to love every aspect of running,” Bartels said. “I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be able to run this year with COVID and everything so I just took it all the way and did everything I could.”

Bartels continued to impress on Tuesday finishing fourth in a loaded field in a time of 19:26.11.

Class 2A top-ranked Danielle Hostetler led a trio of Mid-Prairie runners in the top three spots winning the individual title in 18:44.69.

Top-ranked Mid-Prairie put four runners in the top five and rolled to the team title with

24 points, 50 in front of runner-up Tipton.

Host Monticello was third with 76 points while Class 1A third-ranked Regina was fourth in with 107.

“I think we are set up well confidence wise going forward,” Hartley said. “The girls are just having fun and that’s what it boils down to is they are enjoying it. We stressed from day one that the season could be over tomorrow so I think they just take that and really try to enjoy the best of each day.”

Bartels continued to lead the way for Regina on Tuesday.

The senior has set the Regina 5k school record three times this season and was one of only six runners to finish under 20 minutes on Tuesday.

Bartels time of 19:26.11 was more than 14 seconds in front of fifth-place Mitzi Evans of Mid-Prairie.

“I’m really happy with where I’m at right now,” Bartels said. “The past two years I haven’t been able to break 20 minutes until state and this year I’ve broken 20 almost every single meet. That hard week has really paid off.”

The key for Bartels in 2020 has been consistency.

After Tuesday’s fourth-place conference finish Bartels has now won two of her past four meets and finished in the top-four in each of the other two meets.

“She doesn’t really ever have a bad day,” Hartley said. “Her ‘bad days’ are still pretty good and I saw that the last couple of years with here. It’s just consistency and I think it’s really paying off.”

Joe Maley placed 33^rd to lead Regina in the boys race as the Regals placed ninth with 210 points.

Monticello won the boys team title with 55 points finishing six points in front of Tipton while Mid-Prairie was third with 89.

Bellevue senior Brady Griebel won the individual title in a time of 15:48.86.

River Valley Conference Championships

At Monticello High School 

Team scores – 1. Mid-Prairie 24; 2. Tipton 74; 3. Monticello 76; 4. Regina 107; 5. Northeast 163; 6. Anamosa 170; 7. Cascade 170; 8. North Cedar 177

Individual leaders – 1. Danielle Hostetler (M-P) 18:44.69; 2. Sydney Yoder (M-P) 19:22.66; 3. Jaden Yoder (M-P) 19:22.97; 4. Annalee Bartels (ICR) 19:26.11; 5. Mitzi Evans (M-P) 19:40.6; 6. Emma Althoff (MON) 19:41.56; 7. Emma Ostwinkle (CAS) 20:10.52; 8. Karle Kramer (MON) 19:41.56; 9. Kallie Wallick (TIP) 20:14.44; 10. Alivia Edens (TIP) 20:21.84

Regina (107) – 4. Annalee Bartels 19:26.11; 12. Mya Whitaker 20:44.42; 25. Natalie Franklin 21:46.53; 32. Josie Pursley 22:25.5; 34. Allison Hein 22:39.47; 35. Keira Sickels 22:42.61; 36. Josie Voss 22:43.9

Boys

River Valley Conference Championships

Team scores – 1. Monticello 55; 2. Tipton 61; 3. Mid-Prairie 89; 4. Bellevue 116; 5. Northeast 126; 6. Cascade 159; 7. Anamosa 168; 8. Camanche 173; 9. Regina 210; 10. West Liberty 301; 11. North Cedar 316

Individual leaders – 1. Brady Griebel (BEL) 15:48.86; 2. Caleb Shumaker (TIP) 15:53.69; 3. Jamison Stutzman (M-P) 16:34.83; 4. Dylan Darsidan (CAM) 16:38.59; 5. Payton Griebel (BEL) 16:45.57; 6. Jasper Nietert (MON) 16:56.04; 7. Cody Bohlman (TIP) 16:56.85; 8. Ty Nichols (TIP) 17:12.28; 9. Andrew Butt (CAM) 17:17.57; 10. Zach Chapman (MON) 17:24.49

Regina (210) – 33. Joe Maley 18:45.4; 38. Adam Boblenz 19:03.58; 42. Riordan Smith 19:11.35; 48. Joe Polyak 19:28.64; 49. Jacob Barnett 19:29.55; 57. Colin Olney 20:07.28; 60. Nicholas Abusada 20:11.62

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating.